There's a good reason the Florence Lauderdale Animal Shelter has nearly 10,800 Facebook followers.  Decatur Animal Services has almost reached the 10,000 mark, and over 17,000 Friends of Athens Limestone Animal Shelter follow the organization.

You work hard for your money (cue Donna Summer tune from 1983...) and you (and/or your spouse, accountant, tax service, accounting major nephew, etc.) work even harder to make sure you get to keep as much of that money as possible after paying taxes.

Don't let a devious cybercriminal make it all for nothing. Our friends at NerdWallet have compiled the following up-to-the-minute advice for keeping fraudsters at bay this tax season.

Cybercrime dominated the headlines in 2016.  From the political accusations of foreign hacking to major hacks and distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks, the far-reaching and ever-evolving activities of cybercriminals grabbed the national spotlight.

Last week we talked about the variety of accounts that will safely store (and potentially grow) your hard-earned savings: traditional savings, money markets, Christmas clubs, individual retirement accounts (IRAs) and certificates of deposit (CDs).

OK, so the title of this blog may be a trick question. Here's why...

Every year, millions of consumers fall victim to cybercrime. According to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, in 2014, consumers lost more than $800 million from scams initiated through the web...and the holidays are a prime time for fraud.  We originally published this blog in June, but it's worth repeating during the busiest and most distracted month of the year.

It's the first week of December, and most of us are already knee-deep in the hustle and bustle of the holidays. But while we're perpetually preoccupied with holiday shopping, tree-trimming, and cookie-baking, cyber criminals are laser-focused on taking advantage of our distraction.

An accountant, an attorney and a banker.  

These are the three critical relationships every small business needs to secure to ensure success.  But how do you know you've chosen the right one?

Family, friends, our health, a roof over our heads and a meal on our table...it's not difficult to come up with reasons we are thankful this holiday season. At Bank Independent, our Helping Hands program reminds us throughout the year of not only these blessings, but also those in our community who may not share them.

Ahhh...the empty nest.  At first, it's bliss. You finally have privacy!  You no longer have to stock the fridge with pizza rolls! Your laundry and dishwashing tasks are cut in half!  Soon, though, you notice that your voice is echoing through the empty halls and your spare rooms are growing spider webs.  Is it time to consider downsizing?